The Aikikai Australia Winter Camp was held at Sydney's Collaroy Centre and marked the first training camp that Sugano Sensei (8th Dan) conducted ever since his recent operation.

Group photo of participants of the Aikikai Australia Winter Camp 2003

Philip Sensei was most impressed by Sugano Shihan's movements and admired his fighting spirit and strong willpower despite his disability. Philip Sensei was also most honoured when Sugano Shihan invited him to take a class. This was his first experiene in taking a class in Aikikai Australia Winter Camp.

Philip Sensei was later invited to a sumptuous Japanese dinner together with Sugano Sensei and the Aikikai Australia Technical and Teaching Committee (TTC).

Philip Sensei at the dinner table with the Technical and Teaching
Committee (TTC) of Aikikai Australia.From front left to right:
Robert Botterill Sensei (Area Rep), Seiichi Sugano Shihan (President)
and Hanan Janiv Sensei (Area Rep). From back left to right: Tony
Smibert Sensei (Vice-President) and Philip Lee Sensei.